SEPTEMBER 20, 1999

Webber gets his money

AUSTRALIAN Mark Webber says he has the money he needs to secure a test drive with the Jordan team next season and is reported to have severed his links with Mercedes-Benz to make way for a Jordan deal. Australian sources say that the deal includes sponsorship from the Foster's brewery but there may be a problem with that as the Jordan team already has a beer sponsor in the form of Czech brewery Pilsner Urquell.

Webber was assisted in his search for money by Ron Walker the chairman of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation who urged the Australian business community to back the youngster who hopes to test for Jordan and race in a Jordan FormulaÊ3000 junior team next year. We understand that Benson & Hedges is keen on the idea of an F3000 operation and there are several teams which could fulfil the role, notably European Formula Racing which is owned by Australian airline magnate PaulÊStoddart, who is already a sponsor of the Jordan team via his European Aviation company.

The only problem with this idea is that European is not yet certain of retaining an entry in F3000 next season as its has not had a good year to date. The team is currently lying 14th in the series with only 14 teams qualifying. The final race of the year will be at the Nurburgring and both the Red Bull Junior Team and the Lukoil Arden operation are after points to dislodge European.